Global shifts and competition between superpowers have placed significant pressure on Cambodia.
Foreign minister Prak Sokhonn has called for the Kingdom’s diplomats to redouble their efforts in the face of aggression. PHOTO: CAMBODIA FOREIGN MINISTRY/THE PHNOM PENH POST
March 6, 2026
PHNOM PENH – Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation Prak Sokhonn has urged the Kingdom’s diplomats to redouble their efforts as Cambodia faces aggression, territorial encroachment and defamation from a neighbouring country.
Addressing the March 5 foreign ministry annual review meeting, Sokhonn highlighted how Cambodia is currently suffering at the hands of a neighbour which possesses military and economic advantages.
At the same time, global shifts and competition between superpowers have placed significant pressure on Cambodia regarding decision-making, policy choices and political positions, putting Cambodia’s national interests at risk, he noted, as quoted by the BTV media outlet.
“Our nation is facing and suffering from aggression, territorial encroachment and defamation from neighbours who use their military and economic superiority to pressure us. Now, more than ever, our diplomats must exert all their efforts — physically and mentally — to resolutely protect the core interests of the nation and our people,” he said.
Although he did not explicitly name Thailand, the neighbouring Kingdom’s military currently occupies at least 14 locations on Cambodian territory.
Thai Foreign Minister Sihasak Phuangketkeow recently attempted to convince the international community that Cambodia used the Preah Vihear Temple — a UNESCO World Heritage Site — as a military base. This accusation has been firmly and repeatedly rejected by Cambodia.
Kin Phea, director of the International Relations Institute of Cambodia, noted that the Thais have recently defamed Cambodia on two issues: the allegation that Cambodia used Preah Vihear as a military base, and the use of a crackdown on online scams as a pretext for aggression against Cambodia.
“Regarding the accusation that Cambodia used Preah Vihear as a military base, no international parties have reacted or believed Thailand because diplomats and ASEAN observer groups have visited Preah Vihear many times. This is unlike the Thai side, which hides information, conceals the truth, lies to the international community and fabricates stories,” he said.
“Therefore, I believe that the ideas that Thai officials have raised in various international forums were intended to deceive international opinion or distort the situation on the ground, and are therefore of little impact. Cambodia is widely recognised as a country which is suffering from Thai aggression,” he added.
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